 January 29, 2011 - 7:30pm | Perhaps the ultimate Alpha Dawn cybernetic enhancement....and it's being developed right here and now in the 21st century. http://we-make-money-not-art.com/archives/2011/01/26g-329ms.php Short version: The researcher wants to weave spider silk into a pattern that is both a bulletproof weave and also provides a matrix for culturing human skin cells. That would then be used to make a bulletproof layer that could be surgically implanted between your dermis and epidermis. And then you are bullet proof. Hellz yeah. I presume you could still suffer brusing and internal bleeding.....and like a kevlar vest it's not "bulletproof" against all bullets. How would stat this in game terms? Say it works like a skeinsuit that no one can see? |
 January 29, 2011 - 7:46pm | I'm unsure that it would be implanted everywhere which would be ok against casual shooters but a serious shoot (assassin or sniper) will be versed in this tech an be sure to put the bullet where the silk is not. Plus the impact forces could be enough to cause serious internal injuries that while the skin is bulletproof the person is dead- 2 People at a wake "You know he was shot to death." "Really? But he looks so natural." I do have doubts about this one panning out. I might not be a dralasite, vrusk or yazirian but I do play one in Star Frontiers! |
 January 29, 2011 - 9:33pm | The correct term is bullet resistant, there's no such thing as bullet proof as most body armor is only good for so many hits before it becomes useless. And as you've said there's also the impact damage as well. All body armor really does is try to keep you from really serious injury should you be hit. In every age, in every place, the deeds of men remain the same. |
 January 30, 2011 - 12:05am | if used in conjunction with body armor there maybe a use for this but by itself it would not have many practicle applications. |
January 30, 2011 - 4:26pm | if used in conjunction with body armor there maybe a use for this but by itself it would not have many practicle applications. Say what? I'll grant you it isn't strong. A type 1 vest (which the skin embedded armor is supposed to emulate) is only proof against a .22 rifle, .38 pistol, or similar. On the other hand, it should be very difficult to detect and can't be removed or confiscated, which makes it perfect for covert agents, special ops, criminals, under cover police.....or maybe a boxer who wants to cheat. And since this a future world, why restrict ourselves to ballistic protection? What about genetically engineered silk worms that create a reflective silk which can then be woven into your skin to provide limited albedo protection? Instead of or in addition to the limited inertia protection. |
January 31, 2011 - 12:04am | In my humble opinion, and experience, my reasoning is thus... In the real world, which I know the game is not, my level IIIA vest (In law enforcement the vest resistance is commonly measured by "level") will "catch" a lot bigger round than a .38 so long as it is not teflon coated or armor piercing. A FMJ .22 rifle round is actually in the real world a much more deadlier round for vests because of the extremely small ballitistic profile of .22 calibre weapon and the exteremely high penetration. I'd rather take the .38 or .40 any day of the week than risk a .22 rifle round not getting enough distribution across the Kevlar. Now back to the game, lets look at the direct implanted spider silk super strand skin mesh. As a back up to prevent additional penetration this substance could really be the stuff. However, the thickness of the skin layer provides absolutely no kinetic abosrbtion and limited redistribution of force. So while its thin and may stop the puncture, every bone (unless cybernetically hardened) around the impact site would be turned into fragmented shrapnel. Now, in the case of lasers, themal, and electrical weapons which do not necessisarily cause kinetic impact damage the skin mesh developed to resist these weapons maybe enough in and of itself. But lets not forget the great words of Richard Marcinko, "Two is One, One is None. Always have a back up". |
January 30, 2011 - 11:54pm | Of course here's the real kicker, who in their right mind will ever volunteer to test it. Its not like you can put it on a ballisitic gelatin block and shoot at it. Since it's skin it will be effected by the grafting process to the host subject. There are all sorts of things that could go wrong genetically and biologically from one subject to the next. Like for example, the subject wishing to have the spider silk implanted into his skin contracts a staph infection or herpes and suddenly the bilogical component the bio armor is attached to is now compromised and weakend thus effecting the integrity of the armor. Another downer, is once you have the super skin you are pretty well stuck with it, i'm sure removal of a subdermal bioarmor would not be pretty procedure...that's gonna leave a mark. |
 January 31, 2011 - 1:20pm | Yeah, this does seem really far-fetched to me. One of the things I like about certain sci-fi isn't that it is "hard" logical, but it's sort of based in a real-world logic. Why bother with getting skin implanted that may or may not work, maybe or may not get rejected, when you can just keep buying more and more advanced vests? "Who knows where those Star Wars Online coupons are hiding?" |
 January 31, 2011 - 5:48pm | This skin would make surgery in the covered area very difficult. As for impact, I think it would reduce impact, but spread the damage over a certain area, tearing flesh beneath the skin, but not so much that it causes catestrophic damage, but could induse shock. I think a bullet hit would then become a massive bruise. As for fragmentation of bone, I don't think that would happen unless the bullet hits directly on a bone, and even then, they won't shatter as suggested here. Only thin, flat bones fragment in such a way. Thick and round bones, such as ribs, femur, etc. will splinter, but the splinters will remain in place, and with careful repositioning and pins, could be healed back, almost as good as new. It's the head shot that would cause fragmentation, but at least you wouldn't have the bullet boring a hole in the head, in which case it may still save your life. Though the impact from the blow of the bullet could cause a severe concussion, which in itself could kill or make surgery to remove the shattered skull pieces near impossible. View my profile for a list of articles I have written, am writing, will write. "It's yo' mama!" —Wicket W. Warrick, Star Wars Ep. VI: Return of the Jedi "That guy's wise." —Logray, Star Wars Ep.VI: Return of the Jedi Do You Wanna Date My Avatar? - Felicia Day (The Guild) |
January 31, 2011 - 7:06pm | Ascent, respectfully, I've seen enough gun shot wounds working the projects in Phoenix to know that whether the bone is shattered, splintered, or pulverized by the round the risk of secondary injury from the wound is a real danger to the organs and circulatory system near by. |
January 31, 2011 - 7:48pm | I don't recall denying that. By "catastrophic", I meant exploded organs and such. The silk being stretched over the skin would pull on all areas. If you've ever seen injuries to people wearing armor, you'll know that they get damaged, but the impact spreads out. Since the skin is attached, it would have a lot of resistance due to pulling in all directions. The body is very resillient to impact damage. View my profile for a list of articles I have written, am writing, will write. "It's yo' mama!" —Wicket W. Warrick, Star Wars Ep. VI: Return of the Jedi "That guy's wise." —Logray, Star Wars Ep.VI: Return of the Jedi Do You Wanna Date My Avatar? - Felicia Day (The Guild) |
January 31, 2011 - 9:19pm | I've been on the injury side wearing armor, oh im real familiar with that |
February 1, 2011 - 3:45pm | In my humble opinion, and experience, my reasoning is thus... In the real world, which I know the game is not, my level IIIA vest (In law enforcement the vest resistance is commonly measured by "level") will "catch" a lot bigger round than a .38 so long as it is not teflon coated or armor piercing. A FMJ .22 rifle round is actually in the real world a much more deadlier round for vests because of the extremely small ballitistic profile of .22 calibre weapon and the exteremely high penetration. I'd rather take the .38 or .40 any day of the week than risk a .22 rifle round not getting enough distribution across the Kevlar. To be clear here, when you say FMJ .22 rifle round you do mean some thing like a .223 or 5.56mm round right? Not a .22 long rifle round. In every age, in every place, the deeds of men remain the same. |
February 1, 2011 - 4:38pm | .22 long rifle is specifically what i was saying. I would not want to get shot directly in the vest by a FMJ .22 long rifle or .22 hornet magnum. Now mind you, my Level IIIA is rated at specific distances and powder grain loads to absorb such a round. But when you are talking about your life and trying to make sure all the conditions and distances are just perfect to prevent penetration then I again state that I would rather take the larger calibre pistol round then the smaller stilleto like .22 rifle round at standard field interview distances where most altercations actually occur at. |
February 7, 2011 - 1:30pm | The real problem with bullet-resistant skin is the bullet that penetrates. One of the problems with body armor has been the ricochet effect of bullets that get through the armor. When they don't have an exit, they just bounce around until their momentum stops. The result can be beyond messy, internally. View my profile for a list of articles I have written, am writing, will write. "It's yo' mama!" —Wicket W. Warrick, Star Wars Ep. VI: Return of the Jedi "That guy's wise." —Logray, Star Wars Ep.VI: Return of the Jedi Do You Wanna Date My Avatar? - Felicia Day (The Guild) |
February 7, 2011 - 4:04pm | I do think the concept has merits worth considering, I just dont believe that it would work as a stand alone armor system. |
 February 8, 2011 - 7:34am | Im not going to argue the scientific possibilty of the graph. However, as far as who would preform such a dangerous surgery, and who would undergo such an operation, depends on how ruthless and how desperate each person is. Perhaps a facility, similar to Department K, which created Weapon X, wanted to test the capabilitys a person or creature can possess. Also, people will do drastic things in order to be the ultimate assassin, agent ect... |
February 8, 2011 - 4:30pm | You have a good point Commander Sheppard. |
February 10, 2011 - 3:02pm | I do think the concept has merits worth considering, I just dont believe that it would work as a stand alone armor system. That's what I was thinking. It would only be useful if you're wearing armor on top of it. The first armor would slow the armor-piercing bullet down enough for the bullet-resistant skin to finish the job. View my profile for a list of articles I have written, am writing, will write. "It's yo' mama!" —Wicket W. Warrick, Star Wars Ep. VI: Return of the Jedi "That guy's wise." —Logray, Star Wars Ep.VI: Return of the Jedi Do You Wanna Date My Avatar? - Felicia Day (The Guild) |
 February 21, 2011 - 10:08pm | A bullet proof skin graft would really clear up acne though.... (insert sarcastic comeback here) |
February 22, 2011 - 7:56am | ON further reflection (and thinking about my first watch as a kid- water resistent up to 60m) It would be marketed as Bullet Resistent up to x calibur and all the small print would have all sorts of legalese covering the company against fatal bullet penetrations- non fatal bullet penetrations wont have a case because you survive (just imagine what would happen if you hadn't had the graft). In particular I guess that the graft would initially be just for the chest and back area- center of mass and the scars or evidence of having it would be concealled under a shirt. Still not convince that spider silk will do this but no doubt in the future scientist may develop a substance that will do this and make the graft possible. I might not be a dralasite, vrusk or yazirian but I do play one in Star Frontiers! |
March 2, 2011 - 7:26pm | They've been saying for years that spider silk was something like 20 times stronger than steal and infinitely more durable and flexible. They've talked about making bridge wire out of artificially manufactured silk. View my profile for a list of articles I have written, am writing, will write. "It's yo' mama!" —Wicket W. Warrick, Star Wars Ep. VI: Return of the Jedi "That guy's wise." —Logray, Star Wars Ep.VI: Return of the Jedi Do You Wanna Date My Avatar? - Felicia Day (The Guild) |
